Roosters Moment: 1980 Grand Final

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Bulldogs TV takes you back to the 1980 Grand Final when the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs defeated Eastern Suburbs 18-4 at the SCG in front of a crowd of 52,881.

Canterbury's loss of long serving fullback Stan Cutler with a broken leg suffered in the major semi-final, and the Roosters' form in the preliminary final resulted in Easts being warm favourites. But the Bulldogs, boasting two sets of brothers in the Hughes and Mortimers, as well as a tough forward pack came ready to play expansive football. The Roosters began well and Noel Cleal was a constant threat but Canterbury's forwards lead by Robinson and Coveney really stood up and showed the Roosters they were not going to be walk overs.

Winger Chris Anderson scored the first try of the match after some great work from Chris Mortimer and Greg Brentnall in the lead up.

The Roosters went oh so close to hitting back, but were denied through desperate cover defence from Steve Mortimer on Easts' winger Steve McFarlane to prevent the flyer from scoring. Ken Wright kicked two penalty goals for the tricolours, resulting in a 7–4 lead to the Bulldogs at half time.

After the break, the Bulldogs extended their lead to 13-4 thanks to the boot of Steve Gearin.

It was an arm wrestle the second half, with both sides going from one end of the field to the other, before flying Winger Steve Gearin scored five minutes before full-time after a Greg Brentnall break and kick ahead resulted in Gearin out jumping his opposite number to slam the ball down over the line, in what many regard as one of the greatest grand final tries of all-time.

Gearin converted his try to give the Bulldogs an 18-4 win and the clubs first premiership in 38 years.

The 1980 premiership was the clubs third title since 1935 and was the start of the most successful period in the clubs history.